Sermons upon the Book of Job

yet should he be just and righteous still. Yea verily: and yet were that without cause. True it is that if we take counsel of our own brain, if we discuss the case as it cometh too our own fleshly understanding, we shall say, it is without cause. But without any inquisition, or without running a head, it behoveth us to conclude, that forasmuch as God is righteous, he knoweth why he doth it. We see no cause: but yet must we glorify him. Lo in what plight Job was. And he addeth, That God giveth him not respite too take breath, but feedeth him with bitterness. Here Job showeth that besides that his misery is great and excessive, it doth also hold on still, and the chief piece of his temptation is that God feedeth him with bitterness, that is too say, that he filleth him in such wise with anguish as he cannot find so much as one little scrap of his goodness too refresh him with, that he may take courage. And here ye see yet better, how God doth now and then cast his servants even to the bottom of their grave. And it is a thing that we ought too mark well. For there is not that man of us, which shall not find himself sore cumbered when God turneth his back upon us, or if we perceive him to have a terrible countenance so as he show himself to be as it were angry with us. For then alas, even the boldest and most adventurous are so quailed, as they see nothing but death before their eyes. Howe shall we do then who are yet so weak and feeble? So much the more therefore doth it stand us in hand too mark well these texts: that is to wit, that when God not only hath given poor creatures some sign of his anger, but also holdeth them locked up there, so that when they would take wind and draw their breath, in hope to have some little smack of his favour to allay their griefs withal, God cometh on still to increase the misery. Seeing that Job hath bin in such extremity, why should not we be so to▪ Therefore whensoever we be in any mean adversity, let us prepare our selves to receive grievouser when it pleaseth God to send them, until that he have remedied all our miseries. Thus ye see what we have to mark upon this text. But Job bewrayeth himself more openly anon after, in saying: If ye speak of strength, who is like unto God? If the matter must come too justice, who is he that can summon him?

yet shoulde hee be iust and rightuous still. Yea verely: and yet were that without cause. True it is that if we take counsel of our own braine, if we discusse the cace as it commeth too our owne fleshly vnderstanding, wee shall say, it is without cause. But without any inquisition, or without running a heade, it behoueth vs to conclude, that forasmuch as God is rightuous, he knoweth why he doth it. VVee see no cause: but yet must we glorifie him. Lo in what plight Iob was. And he addeth, That God giueth him not respite too take breath, but feedeth him with bitternesse. Here Iob sheweth that besides that his miserie is great and excessiue, it doth also holde on still, and the chiefe piece of his temptation is that God feedeth him with bitternesse, that is too say, that he filleth him in such wise with anguish as he cannot finde so much as one little scrappe of his goodnesse too refresh him with, that he may take courage. And here ye see yet better, howe God doth now and then cast his seruants euen to the bottom of their graue. And it is a thing that we ought too marke well. For there is not that man of vs, which shall not finde himselfe sore combered when God turneth his backe vpon vs, or if we perceyue him to haue a terrible countenance so as he shewe himselfe to be as it were angry with vs. For then alas, euen the boldest and most aduenterous are so quayled, as they see nothing but death before their eyes. Howe shall wee doo then who are yet so weake and feeble? So muche the more therefore doth it stande vs in hande too marke well these textes: that is to wit, that when God not onely hath giuen poore creatures some signe of his anger, but also holdeth them locked vp there, so that when they woulde take winde and drawe their breath, in hope to haue some little smack of his fauour to alay their grieses withal, God commeth on still to increase the miserie. Seeing that Iob hath bin in such extremitie, why should not we be so to Therefore whensoeuer we be in any meane aduersitie, let vs prepare our selues to receyue grieuouser when it pleaseth God to sende them, vntill that he haue remedied all our miseries. Thus ye see what we haue to mark vpō this text. But Iob bewrayeth himselfe more openly anon after, in saying: If ye speake of strength, who is like vnto God? If the matter must come too iustice, who is he that can summon him?